Month: September 2013

American Services HVAC heating and cooling in St. Louis knows that one of the most economical and environmentally ways to heat a building is to use solar power. And since this green technology has advanced exponentially over the years it has become even more effective and costs less than ever before.

One of the easiest applications for solar power is to use it for the heating of all water in a commercial facility. Hot water usage can come from showers, bathrooms or even cleaning and manufacturing. The old fashioned way to heat water has always been by using a water heater that is either powered by propane, natural gas or some other fossil fuel. The problem with all of these fuels is that there isn’t an endless supply of any of them and therefore the cost to a business can be daunting. Additionally as fossil fuels become more and more rare and the techniques used to mine them become more expensive the cost is going to continue to rise. The advantage of using solar power is that it’s a fixed cost with a onetime initial expense and then just maintenance from that point on.

The process to get this all started for a commercial application is fairly simple. Evacuated tube collectors or a similarly designed solar panel is placed on the roof or high point near the building. This tube design is particularly important because the solar panels are always facing the sun no matter what angle the sun is at or the time of day. In addition the simplistic design is solid and offers years of practical use. The energy is then captured in a solar collector and through a series of tubes and a central controller; the heat is pushed throughout the facility. This design can be used in a variety of geographic areas and can be just as effective in the winter as it is during those dog days of summer when the sun is always around.

Using a solar panel system to heat water for a commercial building is not only smart business but is good for the earth as well. Solar energy has been around for years, and continues to supply companies around the world with simple, fast and cheap energy. If you’re looking to cut costs out of your business and need a simple and time tested solution then solar power might be just what you need.

Cooling a commercial building can be extremely expensive, in fact 40% of electricity costs are generated by the HVAC system. With that in mind business owners need to make sure that they have the correct system installed for their building and that it’s working properly.

The first step in ascertaining if you have the right HVAC installed is to get a commercial energy audit performed by a professional. The audit process should include an analysis of where your company is using the most energy and identify any places you are losing energy. The first step of the energy audit should include a thorough inspection of the building including a thermal infrared scan to find any leakage points. A visual inspection should also be performed at any entrances and exits, windows, the outer building and a check of the overall status of the insulation. If any deficiencies are seen, they should be noted in detail as a part of the analysis.

The second step in this process is to go through options on how to repair some of the issues discovered in the analysis. The repairs can run from the simple; more insulation, sealing leaks, to the more complex; replacement of equipment, ducting or a complete redesign. For owners cost will of course come into play and it’s important that the audit includes not only detailed pricing information, but also a return on investment section so owners can make the best decision for their business.

Once all the analysis has been done the business owner and their chosen HVAC company need to come up with a logical plan of attack. Sometimes this involves just a few repairs like tune ups or additional weatherizing, and sometimes this might mean a complete overhaul. An overhaul would be especially true if you’re dealing with an older building that hasn’t been updated in quite some time. HVAC systems have improved over the years, so a replacement of old equipment can end up saving money for business owners in the long run. Also, modern systems have sophisticated control systems that can drive additional efficiency into the overall design.

The cooling of a commercial building is a complicated process, but it can be simplified if the right professionals are involved. While all of this can seem daunting at first, with a little work at the beginning you just might find that you end up saving not only energy, but some money as well.

American Services commercial heating maintenance near Collinsville knows that if heating costs are starting to affect your bottom line, then it’s time to reanalyze your heating plan. Sometimes saving money is as simple as sealing up your building or as complex as redoing your entire HVAC system, but you’ll never know until you take the time to find out.

Whenever professionals talk about a heating plan they discuss the load that is currently on the system. In order to reduce costs you have to reduce the load that the system is currently under. One way to do this is to make sure that heat isn’t leaking out of the building. Common points of energy loss include; door and window seals, ventilation seals and exterior cracks on the shell of the building. Once these issues have been addressed business owners might see an instant savings, but there is still more that can be done.

Another analysis that can be done is to look at the size of the HVAC system that you have installed. It is very common for commercial buildings to have oversized systems that end up costing owners hundreds and even thousands of dollars in additional heating costs. Some of this oversizing is a result of owners choosing the wrong systems or professionals that make some common mistakes. Unfortunately, the only way to really fix this problem is to replace the system, but you won’t know until you take a look at what you currently have.

Another consideration is to replace any system that is over 10 years old. HVAC systems have become so efficient that even a system that is only 10 years old can be causing your business about a 20% loss in energy efficiency. Of course when you replace your HVAC system you want to make sure that you buy an Energy Star compliant appliance, which guarantees that the system is efficient and government approved. Another bonus to buying a more modern system is that the programmable thermostats allow users to refine their heat output and can even be designed with different zones for an optimal heating plan.

Heating a large commercial building can be very expensive, but there are a variety of ways to cut costs. Sometimes the solutions are simple and sometimes they can be fairly complex, but unless you take a good hard look at your heating plan, you’ll never know. So don’t just sit there, start saving money on all your heating costs.

American Services industrial cooling equipment installation knows that whether you’re cooling a home or a commercial sized building, not only can it be expensive, but there are environmental costs as well. One way to help mitigate both of these “expenses” is to employ an absorption cooler into your overall cooling design.

The absorption cooler is not only an energy efficient and effective piece of equipment, but its environmental impact is also minimized. The basic principle behind absorption coolers, which also makes them efficient, is that they use heat as their energy source rather than electricity. This heat source can be fed to the absorption cooler through a variety of methods including; propane, solar power and even a geothermal heat source. Of course the solar and geothermal sources offer the least environmental impact, but there are options if those don’t work for your particular application.

Absorption coolers operate on a basic thermo-chemical principal that uses a refrigerant and an absorbent. Many absorption cooler systems use a lithium bromide solution as the absorbent, which is efficient and more environmentally friendly than the chemicals found in a standard HVAC system. Water is the next ingredient that is used and acts as the refrigerant. These two liquids work in conjunction to transfer heat and help to create a coolant by using what is normally wasted heat in a standard HVAC configuration.

The application of absorption chillers is as diverse as the variety of chillers themselves. The chillers can be driven by a variety of “fuel sources” and are used in everything from large factories to commercial buildings looking for more cost effective and energy efficient plans. In especially large facilities, absorption coolers can be used in conjunction with other current cooling equipment and can save owners money by acting as support equipment to an overall design. Owners might also find that absorption coolers can provide virtually free cooling because of their ability to use waste heat, which can end up saving business owners a great deal of money.

Absorption coolers can’t be utilized in every application, but when they can it means a tremendous energy and cost savings for the business owner. In addition, absorption chillers are a time proven application that represent both an efficient use of energy and a technology that is good for the environment. And with a combination like that you really can’t go wrong.

American Services refrigeration installation service near Fenton knows that refrigeration units all need to have the capacity to keep food cold enough to prevent bacterial growth, keep food safe, and must have a durable stainless exterior, and involve a compressor and ventilation components either on top or the side of the unit.

Temperatures of between thirty four to forty degrees Fahrenheit are maintained in commercial refrigeration systems and commercial freezers must keep the interior temperature between minus ten and zero degrees.

In Commercial refrigeration systems, business owners will get the reassurance that when food is stored, it will be kept safe in restaurants, and commercial kitchens of all types due to its durability, compared to residential systems.

Commercial type refrigeration systems offer versatility and user friendly models of all types whether a reach in model is best for your facility, or under the counter refrigerator or even a full size walk in type best meets your needs. Advantages of a commercial type unit over a residential refrigerator include;

Keep produce fresh, crisp and cold longer

Maintain the integrity of prepared foods longer

Keep perishable items out of the food danger zone

More versatile in the different types of units offered

Commercial refrigeration systems are offered in several different types of configurations such as walk in refrigerators, under the bar units, and more. No matter what type of space your commercial facility has, there is a commercial refrigeration unit perfect for your restaurant, bakery, or other industrial business blackjack casinoer.

To find out more about the various types of refrigeration and freezer units available for your commercial space, contact us today at American Services in St. Louis MO.

In today’s competitive world of industry, efficient HVAC systems are a must in order to increase productivity and ensure that commercial business owners have efficient systems for cost savings as well as to lower their carbon footprint.

The downside of HVAC systems is that unfortunately they require a lot of routine maintenance with so many components necessary to heat and cool large industrial spaces.

It doesn’t matter if you are a heating and cooling large buildings such as schools hospitals, or even an airport, factory, or office building, maintenance to your commercial HVAC system in Missouri is a given during every season of the year.

When you are in the market for a new HVAC repair and maintenance professional, be sure to find out if the technicians are certified and have a wealth of experience in boilers, chillers, rooftop units, compressors, and more such as those at American Services in Saint Louis.

At American Services, not only do we offer professionally trained technicians, but you can also get education on daily maintenance tasks such as changing dirty filters which need to be replaced regularly to avoid blocking air flow to HVAC systems.

In the instance of any type of emergency situation such as failure or major malfunction of your HVAC system, American Services has emergency staff on call 24 hours per day 7 days per week. If you want an estimate, be sure to contact us today to set up an appointment and we will be more than happy to send out one of our highly trained technicians.

American Services knows that running successful beverage system restaurant equipment in Missouri can be a real challenge, particularly when you don’t have the proper support for maintenance and repair when something goes wrong. American Services has the professional technologists to help you with any problem you may experience including installation of new beverage systems. Here are some general tips to ensure that once your system is up and operational, that you are sure to turn it into a profitable money making system for your business;

Be sure to train all staff on the responsibilities of serving alcoholic beverages as well as the laws that govern proper service of alcohol.

Ensure that your staff is well trained, personable, friendly to customers, and generally positive and outgoing.

Research available POS systems to be sure you are getting the best rates possible. A POS system is a great way to keep an accurate account of your sales.

Create your own “signature drink” which will help your bar stand out against competitors.

Help you bartenders get organized for optimal efficiency when the bar gets packed with customers. Be sure to do things like group your beer taps together and then your various types of soft drinks tog together to prevent staff from running around to different areas when an order for 2 different types of beer or soft drinks comes in.

Market you’re any specials you have upcoming as well as your signature drink.

When it comes to great atmosphere, remember that a clean bar is important to attract and keep customers.

Make sure bar tenders are well trained on the proper amounts for pouring. Inaccurate measuring for the pour is one of the quickest ways for restaurant owners to lose money.

Keep bar equipment in proper working order-this is an area that American Services can help you to maintain your beer draft and other beverage systems, dishwasher, coolers, ice machines and more.

Change your drink menu fairly often and try switching your draft beer brands every couple of months or bring in new local seasonal wines. Offer seasonal drinks such as hot coffee drinks in the winter.

With record heat hitting across the nation each summer, there has never been a better time to improve your cooling system for maximum efficiency by performing commercial cooling preventative maintenance in MO.

Commercial air conditioning cooling systems require regular maintenance to keep them running in top condition and to save money on cooling expense for commercial spaces. There are vital components that need to be checked such as air filters and more in order to keep your cooling system putting out maximum cool air. One area of expertise that our professional technicians can perform is to summarize your unit to ensure it’s working properly.

In order to prevent major breakdowns of your commercial cooling systems, it’s important to continue doing regular maintenance all year long, NOT just in the summer months. This will keep your indoor climate control system operating consistently even with record breaking ambient temperatures and high humidity. It’s important to keep a professional cooling expert, such as those at American Services, available every day of the week, and have a twenty four hour emergency contact in case of break downs. Our technicians are highly trained and ready to assist you with any of your cooling maintenance or repair needs, every month of the year.

Regular maintenance, and particularly a preventative maintenance plan needs to be implemented as soon as possible if you want to keep your cooling system running at an optimal level of functioning all summer long. Our certified technicians will also be sure to check your Freon levels and make sure you do not have any leaks. This will also extend the life of your system and save money in the long run. Fewer breakdowns also leads to less unplanned expenses out of your business budget. Experience fewer breakdowns and certified techs will also make sure that the air has enough Freon in the air conditioner.

American Services, heating maintenance service in St. Louis, knows that when selecting a wood burning or Pellet heating appliance for your commercial space, it’s vital to choose the correct size for the space you plan to heat.

Also, wood burning and pellet heating appliances can cause many pollutants and chemicals in the air such as; nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, organic gases, and particulate matter which could result in health hazard when toxins reach a certain level.

Therefore maintenance performed regularly to your wood or pellet burning system is vital to the safety of your commercial environment and air quality.

It is advisable to have a certified chimney sweep-certified by the “Chimney Safety Institute of America,” inspect your chimney each year before the heating season. This is important in order to check your appliance, all of its connecting pipes, air inlets and other parts in order to ensure they are all in proper working order.

Catalytic stoves and inserts should be inspected even more frequently-up to 3 times each year according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Maintenance to the outside of your heating appliance is also important. Removal of just 1/10th of an inch of soot can improve efficiency of your unit to as much as fifty percent of the heat transfer efficiency of the metal.

Cleaning the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically will also help your wood-burning appliance heat your home efficiently. Even a one-tenth inch of soot can drop the heat transfer efficiency of the metal by 50%.

If you have a pellet burning appliance, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the maintenance regime. Be sure to regularly check the motors and fans, and remove any unused pellets from the stove and the feed system at the end of every heating season.

To learn more about heating maintenance or to get a quote on maintenance for your heating system, contact us today at American Services.

For the ultimate peace of mind regarding safely storing food, restaurant owners must do their homework to educate themselves on the best type of refrigeration system for each individual facility.

Principals of safe refrigeration include;

Keeps produce fresh and crisp longer

Maintains the integrity of prepared foods for longer periods

Keeps perishable foods from spoiling

When it comes to commercial refrigeration, there are many different sizes and configurations available

Reach-in Refrigerators and Freezers

Reach-in refrigerators and freezers are upright cold storage units with multiple sections, and their storage capacity is determined by cubic feet.

Walk-in Refrigerators and Freezers

Walk-in refrigerators and freezers are vital for restaurants that need a large amount of refrigeration space. Commercial shelving systems are set up inside walk-in units for quick access to food that is organized by location inside the cooler or freezer.

Refrigerated Prep Tables

Refrigerated Prep Tables are designed for convenient access to cold foods on the cook line or preparation areas in the commercial kitchen, refrigeration prep tables including sandwich/salad tables and pizza prep tables.

Undercounter Refrigerators

These units are similar to upright reach-in units, but they are shorter to be used for quick access to foods needed during prepping.

Refrigerated Merchandisers

Also called display refrigerators, are designed to display products with glass doors or an open front. Merchandisers are refrigeration units that provide the opportunity for quick sales of perishable foods.

Bar Refrigeration

Types of Bar Refrigeration units include; back bar refrigerators, keg coolers, plate chillers and more. These units are stainless or black vinyl and are used under the counter in the bar to store perishable items such as milk-used commonly in mixed drinks.